Shedding mechanism for looms



(No Model.) 4 2 sheets sheet 1,

W. EVANS. SHEDDING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

No. 554,442. Fig. a. 24 7 P4 6.

Patented Feb. 11, 1896.

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gt'zvgsszss 6444242 UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

\VILLIAM EVANS, OF FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHEDDING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

SEECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,442, dated February11, 1896.

Application filed January 18, 1895. Serial No. 535,308. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM EVANS, of Fall River, in the county ofBristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Shedding Mechanism for Looms; and I hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification.

This invention has reference to improvements in the class of looms inwhich a pattern-chain controls the operation of the harness-operatingmechanism.

The invention consists in the peculiar and novel construction of theindicator-fingers and the needle by means of which the jackhooks areoperated.

The invention further consists, in connection with theindicator-fingers, of a controlling mechanism by which the pattern ischanged at predetermined intervals, as will be more fully set forthhereinafter.

In the usual construction of the harnessoperating mechanism,known as thedobby, having two rows of pegs on one bar of the pattern-chain, one setof indicator-fingers is operated from one row of pegs and the other setfrom the other row of pegs on the same bar. The first set ofindicator-fingers operates the lower jack-hook and the second setoperates the upper jaclchook. The liftingknives move alternately at eachsuccessive pick of the loom, and when the jack-hooks engage with themthe corresponding harness is raised and lowered. One row of pegs on thebar of the pattern-chain determines which harness and warp-thread shallbe raised for a certain pick of the shuttle, and the other row of pegson the same bar determines the raising of the warp-threads for the nextsucceeding pick of the shuttle. One bar of the pattern-chain, therefore,represents two picks in the woven fabric, and the pattern-chain musthave a sufficient number-of bars to control the springing of the warpfor the pattern of the whole length of the fabric.

In the weaving of a variety of fabrics, such as handkerchiefs, towels,and similar goods, the length of pattern-chain required is objectionableon account of its cost, of labor in pegging and the power and mechanismrequired to carry and operate it.

The object of my invention is to so construct the dobby attachment of aloom that fabrics, such as towels or handkerchiefs, in which stripes orborders of one peculiar pattern or weave are followed or preceded by afield of another pattern or weave can be produced with a short length ofpattern-chain.

In a loom provided with a dobby constructed after my invention thepattern for the main portion of the fabric is represented by one of thetwo rows of pegs on each of the bars of the pattern-chain, and thepattern for the cross-borders is represented by the other row of pegs onthe same bar.

Instead of using each bar of the pattern chain to control the warp oftwo successive picks, as is the usual method employed heretofore, in thepattern-chain used in carrying out my invention each bar controls thespringing of the warp for one pick only, and yet by use of a controllingmechanism, more fully described hereinafter, a short pattern-chain, orfor some weaves a cylinder provided with a pattern-surface, will besufficient to weave fabrics of any desired length in which two kinds ofpatterns of weaves are used at predetermined intervals. The controllingmechanism maybe arranged to control the harnessoperating mechanism inthe old construction of the dobby where two adjacent indicatorfingersoperate the one the lower and the other the upper jack-hooks, but I haveherein shown and described the same in connection with my improvedform-of indicator-fingers and jack-needle.

Figure 1 is a side view of a dobby provided with myimprovements. Fig. 2is a side View, and Fig. 3 a top View, of one of the pair ofindicator-fingers. Fig. 4 is a side View, and Fig. 5 a top view, of theother of the pair of indicator-fingers. Fig. 6 is an edge view, on anenlarged scale, of a needle for operating the jack-hooks, showing theupper and lower hooks and the two parts of the indicatorfingers insection. Fig. 7 is a face View, and Fig. 8 an edge view, of the needleon the scale of Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic.representation of theindicator-fingers, the patternchain, the auxiliary chain, and theirrelative relation to each other, showing also the indicator-finger onone side through which the mechanism for operating the auxiliary chainis set in motion.

To illustrate the invention as clearly as possible and avoid confusion,the .dobbypart of the loom only is shown. The connections with the loom,the driving mechanism and the supporting-frames for the pattern-surfacechains are not shown in the drawings. All these will be well understoodby those skilled in the art and can be readilysupplied.

Similar numbers and lettersof reference designate corresponding partsthroughout.

Referring to Fig. 1, 2 2 indicate the end frames of the dobby, orharness-operating mechanism, usually secured to or forming part of oneof the end frames of the loom. Thevibrator-arm 3 is secured to a shaftsupportedinthe end frames 2 2. The ends of this vibrator-arm 3 areconnected by the rods 4clwith the lifter-knives 5 and these slide in theslotted ways 6.

"lhe-harness-lever 7 is the first one near the frame. The otherharness-1e vers required to weave the patterns are not shown,but all arepivotally-secured on theshaft S, the ends of which are supported in the'end frames 2 2.

To the bracket 9, forming part of the harness lever 7, is pivoted theconnector-arm 10, and to each end of the-same are pivotally connectedthe j ask-hook 11 to the upper end and the jack hook 11 to the lowerend.Theindicator-fingers are pivoted on the-shaft 13, supported in theendframes 2 2, andrest on the bar 14,- extending from one end frame to theother in the usual manner.

-Sofar as now described the construction is the usual construction ofthe dobby harness operating mechanism.

On referring to Fig. 6 it will be-seen that the needle 15supports jack11 on the upper end 15 and the jack 11 on theshoulder 15" at itslowerend, and that the needle is supported by the indicator-finger 12 byashoul-l der formed by the enlargement 15 of the needle and by thelateral projection 12 of the indicator-finger 12 The indioator-finger 12is provided 011 one-side-with two projections, (shown in Fig. 3,) so asto form the groove orspace 12*, and the indicatoi fingcr 12 is providedwith the projection 12, (shown in ends of the indicator-fingers from thepivotal connection at 13 must be heavy enough to more thancounterbalance the weight of the jack-hooks and needle combined.

I will now more particularly describe the object of this improvedconstruction and the mode of operating the same.

Referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the sprocket-wheel 16 is placedbelow the indicator-fingers 12 and that the primary patternchain A onwhich the transverse bars 17 are secured is supported and operated bythe' tor-fingers throughout the series-that is to -say, the pegs mayregister with either ofthe parts 12 01-12. Thisis clearlyshown in Fig.9,wherein' the pegs 18 and 19 are so placed that they will operate theparts 12 of each pair of indicator-fingers, the pegs of each row beingarrangedin the alternation-shown. Now, in

' this condition the pegs cannot operate the needle 15 because itrequires both of theshort ends of the parts 12 and 12 to be depressed topern1it the needle 15-to descend and permit the j ack-hooks to engagewith the lif tin g-knives 5. If, now, by any suitable mechanical meansthe weightedend of one of the two-part indicatorfingersin the presentinstance the part 12" be raised so as to depress the short end connectedwith the needle 15, then when thepattern-peg registering with the otherhalf passes under the-same it will operate the needle to connect thejack-hooks with the lifter-knives and the proper harness w ill beoperated. The preferred means which I have designed for thusoperatingthe half of the indicator-fin.- gers consists in the auxiliaryor indicator chain 20, on which the transverse bars 17 are secured. Oneach of these bars 17 one row of pattern-pegs only is secured. The pegs1S and 19 are placed near one or the other edge of the bars 1'7,the sameas are the pegs 18 and 19 011 the bars 17, so that the coacting pegswill operate the respective halves of the indicator-fingers at the sametime, the pegs 18 corresponding to the pattern of the pegs 18 on theprimary pattern-chain A; but they are laterally placed -so that whilethe pegs 18 on the primary pattern-chainregister, say, with the half 12the pegs 1S register with or operate the other half, 12, of theindicator-fingers, and the levers 21, pivotally secured at one end andbearing on the half 12" of the in- 'dicator-fingers, beingraised whenthe pegs 18 pass under the same, willraise theweighted outer end of thehalf 12" of the indicator-fingers and thereby 13611111111116pattern-pegs 18 to operate the other half, 12, to connect thejack-hookswith the lifter-knives 5 and operate the desired harnesses.The row of pegs ICO 18 operates to unlock one of a pair of theindicator-fingers and the row of pegs 18 operates the other one of thepair of indicator-fingers, the pegs 19 performing the correspondingoffice for the pegs 19, because the needle is supported by two adjacentindicator-fingers forming the pair and cannot be lowered to engage thejack-hook if only one is used or the jack-hooks if, as is shown in thedrawings, two are used, until the weighted outer ends of bothindicator-fingers are raised and the inner ends of both are lowered withthe needle. WVhen now the row of pegs 18 has raised the outer ends ofone of the pairs of indicatorfingers corresponding with the pattern,then the row of pegs 18 can operate the other one of the pair ofindicator-fingers and thus lower the needle and the jack-hook orjack-hooks so as to connect the harness required to be operated to weavethe pattern corresponding with the rowof pegs 18. The row of pegs 19performs the corresponding office for the rows of pegs 19 on thepattern-chain.

The first indicator-finger 12, which is the one nearest the end frame,and the first harness-lever 7 are preferably used to operate theauxiliary or controlling pattern-chain 20,

but they are not in any wise altered and both may be used to control theoperation of a harness when the auxiliary or controlling pattern is notrequired, or when the auxiliary or controlling pattern-chain is operatedby some other moving part. In the preferred construction, as shown inFig. 1, the end frame 2 is provided with the arm 2, near the lower endof which is pivoted the lever 23, the upper end 24 of which lever isbent inward so as to bear on the harness-lever 7. To the lower end ofthe lever 23 is pivotally secured the ratchet-bar 25, the hook on thefront end of which engages with the ratchet-wheel 26. The spring 23 issecured at one end to the frame 2 and at the other end to the lever 23.To enable others versed in the art to more fully understand myinvention, I will now describe the operation of the same more fully. Letthe line of pegs 18 on the bars 17 of the primary pattern-chain Arepresent the weave of the cross-stripe of a towel, and the line of pegs19 on the same bar 17 of the primary pattern-chain A represent the weaveof the field, and also that a line of pegs 18 on the auxiliarypattern-chain 20 is under the lever 21 and has raised the longer end ofthe indicator-fingers 12, then, the loom being in operation weaving thepattern of the cross-stripe, the row of pegs 18 on each bar of thepatternchain can operate the indicator-fingers 12 and through them thejacks and harnesses, and as each bar 17 with its two rows of pegs raisesthe corresponding indicator-fingers and thereby operates thecorresponding harnesses, the weave of the stripe represented by the rowof pegs 18 would be woven continuously, the pattern-chain repeating thesame weave continuously.

Various arrangements may be made to change thepattern of the weave, thesimplest of which arrangements is adapted to weaving handkerchiefs, andconsists in making up the primary pattern-chain A to contain as manybars 17, each provided with the two rows of pegs 18 19, as there arepicks required to weave the border, and for the field a multiple of thenumber of picks in the border. One of the bars 17 is provided with oneextra peg reg istered to operate the first indicator-finger 12.

Referring to Fig. 9 of the drawings, it will be seen that two of thebars 17 are provided each with one extra peg on the left-hand end of thebars, the peg 19 on a line with the row of pegs 19 andthe peg 18 on aline with the row of pegs 18, and it will also be seen that the pegs 18and 19 register with the first indicator-finger 12, that the pegs 1.8and 19 register with the indicator-fingers 12", and the pegs 18 and 19register with the indicatorfingers 12. Assuming now that the chain withthe bars 17 is moving toward the indicator-fingers and under the same,that the chain with the bars 17 is also moving toward and under theindicator-fingers, and that the first of the bars 17 will lift theweighted ends of-three of the indicator-fingers 12, then, under theseconditions, when the first of the bars 17 passes under theindicator-fingers it will operate the three indicator-fingers 12, whichform, with the three indicator-fingers 12, the pairs required to beoperated to permit the needles to descend and engage the jack hooks andthereby operate the harnesses. The bar 17 remains under. the jackhooks,and the three indicator-fingers 12 raised by the pegs on this bar remainin the raised position until the auxiliary chain having the bars 17 isoperated to bring the next bar under the indicator-fingers. The pick forwhich the harnesses were operated by means of the first bar 17 beingcompleted, the pattern-chain is operated to bring the second bar 17under the indicator-fingers, the pegs 18 will again operate the samethree fingers 12, and the pattern will be repeated; but on the secondbar 17 is the peg 18, which registers with the indicator-finger 12 andthrough the auxiliary harness-lever operates the pawl by which theauxiliary chain is rotated, and therefore for the next succeeding pickthe second bar 17 is brought under the indicatorfingers, and three otherfingers 12 are operated upon by the pegs 19, so that at this pick thepegs on the third bar 17 will operate the indicator-fingers 12 andthrough the same the corresponding harnesses. At the next pick thefourth bar 17 of the pattern-chain is brought under theindicator-fingers, while the second bar 17 remains in position becausethe same pattern is to be continued. The fourth bar 17 can only operatethe harnesses by means of the pegs 19, because the pegs 19 on the secondbar 17 have unlocked only one each of three pairs of fingers and onlythe other one of these three pairs can be operated to connect theharnesses, therefore,

' the patternwill be repeated at the .piekjcor responding withthefourthban17. "On'this bar is, 'however, the extra pegli), which'opcrates the finger'12 because it registers with the same. The third bar17 is now brought, by means of the ratchet-bar.25, under thein:

.dicator-fingers, and as. it is provided with the pegs 19; thesame as.the secondibar 17 it operates' the sameindicator-fingers 12": preparatory to continuingthe same pattern.

Thepattern-chain:may be constructed so as to be providedwith onlyoneofEthOGXtPEL pegs .18 or.19 and bemade upof only such a number of barsul7as will'be equal? to the number of picks inthe border, andtheauxiliaryvch'ain with one bar. 17 pegged tooperate theindicatorifingers and harness required to weave the border, and.suclraznumber of bars 17 as are required to repeat the'patternchain asoften as is required to weave :the

.l-Iavingithus described 'myiinvention, I

claim as new and desire to-secure byiLetters .Patentj 1. .In aloom=harness operating mechanism,

the combination with a pair of indicator fingers, the j aclehoolrs,asingleconnection,. sup ported by a pair ofindicator-fingers,forfiopcrating the jack-hooks, mechanism for operatingthe harnesses, and: a 'pattern'surface constructed to operate oneof*thepair df'indicator-fingers, of an auxiliary pattern-sun.

face, and mechanism, substantially as filescribed, for operatingthesame, constructed to operate-the other of thespair'o'findicatorfifigers, as described.

.2. .In a loomharness-'operating mechanism, the combination with aspairof indicatorfingers, the jack-hooks, connections between each pair ofindicator-fingers and" the" jack hooks, and mechanism" for operating theharnesses, of an auxiliary patternechain' the barsof whichare providedeachwith onerow'of pegs spaced for one :pattern and registering with oneof the pair of indicator-fingers, and a pattern-chain having a series ofbars each provided with two rows of'pegs,.each row spaced for a separatepattern and registering with the other of the pair of indicator-fingers;the whole constructed to operate one of'the pair of indicator-fingers bythe auxiliary pattern-chain and the other one of the pair ofindicator-fingers by the pattern-chain having two rows of pegs on eachbar to operate the harnesses to weave thepatterndesired, as de-.catingefinger; mechanism for connecting andvstructedl'to.automatically. change or repeat :the-pattern ofthe'weave,as described.

4. Ina loomr'harness-operating mechanism, the combination with the jack-hooks and a pair of indicator-fingers, of a needle havin ganenlargement .at its upper. end to 1 support the upper jackhook,:a'projection i near its lower endiforming a support for the lower jackhookand a shoulderforsupporting the needle on one of .the indicator-fingers,and an extension of the lower end of theneedle bearing on 'alateralzprojection on the other of the pair of indicator-fingers, as"described.

5. 111a loom-harness-operating mechanism, the 'combinationwith thejack-hooks 11 and 11 of :the needle 15, of the indicatorefinger 12;provided with thegroove 12 and the indicator-fingerl 12 provided withthe projections 12 and 12, ":as described.

6. :In' a loom-harness-operating mechanism, 1 the combin'ation with'the.jack-hooks and connections'with;the'harnessrlevers, of a needle for eachpair'ofrjack hooks, a'pair of indica- 'tor-fingersffor each needle, andprojections on. each indicator-finger'forming supports fortheneedlesyconstructedso that each indicator-fingerscan support andliftthe needle and jack-hooks. and 'both must be operated to lower thejaclclioo'ksTfor engagementwith the lifter-knives, as described.

. 7.. In a loom-harnessmperating mechanism, 1 the combination with thejack-hooks and con- :nections with the harness-levers, of. needlesconstructed to'support the jack-hooks, a series of :pairs ofindicator-"fingers each pair .forming thessupport'for a needle, anauxiliary pattern-chain, providedwith the bars 17 i and havingthe: rows0f=pegs 18, andli), one row oneach bar, constructed to operate one ofeach pair of indicator fingers, and a patternsurface, provided with thebars 17 and having the two rows 18 and 19 pegged for two differentpatterns on each bar, constructed to operate the other one of. the pairsof indicatorfingers to' control the operation of the harnesses andtheweave, as described.

8. In a loom-harness-operating mechanism, the combination with thejack-hooks, the needles .for? supporting two jack-hooks, the :pairs ofindicator-"fingers 12 and 12 the pattern-chain A, the auxiliarypattern-chain 20, and the leversfll, of the auxiliary indicatorfinger12, the auxiliary harness-lever 7, and mechanism, substantially asdescribed, for operatingthe auxiliary pattern-chain 20, as and for thepurpose described.

9. In a loom-harness-operating mechanism, in combination, apattern-chain having a series of bars on each of which two lines ofpegsare placed spaced to control two separate patterns of weave, anauxiliary pattern-chain,

IIO

having a series of bars each provided with only one line of pegs spacedto correspond With one or the other of the patterns of the Weave, and apair of indicator-fingers one of Which is operated by the mainpattern-chain and the other by the auxiliary pattern-chain, asdescribed.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM EVANS.

WVitnesses:

JOSEPH A. MILLER, JOSEPH A. MILLER, J r.

